Hopeton Lewis People Get Ready (This Is Rock Steady) (1967)
The sounds of Jamaica are so diverse, and so many important artists and musical contributions have emerged from the island, rock steady being just one of them. The genre precedes reggae and comes right after the big band sound of ska. Rock steady was more minimal than ska, with a focus on the bass line and bringing the use of the electronic bass to the fore.
Today’s song, “People Get Ready (This Is Rock Steady)”, is by Hopeton Lewis, a premiere artist in the genre. His song “Take it Easy” is widely considered one of the first rock steady recordings. The rhythmic sound of this new musical genre ruled Jamaican music charts and dance floors in the latter part of the 1960s. It even had its own signature dance moves, slowing ska’s up-tempo groove down and laying the groundwork for the bass lines and rhythms of reggae.
While rock steady peaked and dominated the Jamaican charts for just about three years, its influence on the global sound of reggae is indisputable and younger artists continue to mine the genre for influence, with pop artists recording covers or using rock steady instrumentals in their songs. Good music resonates through time and is a constant reminder of the boundless creativity people possess.
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